The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has decried the state of dilapidation of federal roads across the country, particularly those in the South East.

The union, in a 10-point communique issued at the end of the inuagural meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) under the Comrade Abdulwaheed Odusile-led administration held in Katsina, Katsina State, also advised the governors against reneging on payment of the N18,000 minimum wage to workers. NUJ equally urged the newly inaugurated ministers to settle down to work immediately.

The communique, endorsed by the National Secretary of the union, Shuaibu Usman leman, commended the Federal Government for its efforts in tackling insurgency in the country and urged its members to report issues of insecurity with utmost responsibility.

The communique reads in part: “The meeting lamented the deplorable state of federal roads nationwide, describing such roads as death traps, especially in the South East and called on the government to take immediate action towards rehabilitating the roads.

“The meeting also condemned attempt by the Governors Forum to renege on payment of the N18,000 minimum wage to civil servants, saying such action by the governors will be detrimental to the issues of labour law and the Nigerian constitution.

“The meeting commended government on its efforts so far in the fight against insurgency in the North East and urged the military to evolve new ideas and strategies on how to equally tackle the resurgence of suicide bombings, kidnapping and armed robbery.

“The meeting urged all Journalists across the country to report issues of insecurity with all sense of responsibility without necessarily glorifying the activities of the insurgents.”

According to the communique, the also union called on the newly inaugurated Federal Executive Council “to hit the ground running, so as to speed up the process of economic and national development,” while charging the federal government to urgently provide job opportunities to Nigerian youths, using agriculture as a spring board.

The union called for an end to the culture of non-payment of journalists by their employers and enjoined such media organisation to have a change of heart by ensuring that they pay journalists their salaries as at and when due “or face sanctions by the national body of the union.”

The meeting emphasised on the need for State Councils of the union to ensure prompt remittance of Check-Off dues to make it possible for the national body to meet up with its obligations and commended the Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, for facilitating the meeting.

The Ethics and Disciplinary Committee headed by Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha, a former National President of NUJ, and an 11-member National Conference Committee were inaugurated during the NEC meeting. The Ethics and Disciplinary Committee would serve as appelate body that would look at appeal cases on issues of indiscipline and misconduct in the union.

•Photo shows NUJ President, Odusile.

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